faq by hmknives

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything we get asked, grouped so you can find your answer quickly. The short version of the three most common questions: yes, Damascus rusts — ours is carbon steel, so dry it and oil it; returns are 15 days on unused items in original packaging; and custom or engraved pieces cannot be cancelled once we have started making them.

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Ordering and Payment

Do I need an account to place an order?

No. You can check out as a guest. We still need an email address and a delivery address so we know where to send the order and how to reach you about it. Creating an account is optional and gives you order history, saved details and a wish list.

What payment methods do you accept?

Major credit cards, debit cards and PayPal, through a secured payment gateway. Full detail is on our shipping and payments page.

Can I order a knife that is not on the website?

Yes. We take custom orders, and custom work is a large part of what the workshop does. Use the contact form with what you have in mind — blade shape, length, steel, handle material — and we will tell you whether it is something we can make and what it would cost.

How many knives do you have available?

There are currently 64 pieces in the catalogue, from $95 to $370, across hunting, bowie, skinner, kitchen, folding, dagger and outdoor knives, plus Viking axes. Everything in stock is listed on the shop page.

Will the knife I receive look exactly like the photograph?

Close, but not identical, and that is a consequence of hand work rather than a defect. Minor variation in blade, sheath and handle colour is normal because the handle materials are natural. Weight varies slightly because we do not machine-gauge every piece. Dimensions vary by millimetres, not inches — you will not receive a 9 inch knife if you ordered a 10 inch one. On fancy pieces, decorative ornaments can vary with what is available. This is set out in our terms and conditions.

Shipping and Delivery

Which carriers do you use?

DHL, FedEx and USPS. Most shipments go by DHL. Every order is tracked.

How long until my order ships?

Most orders leave within 7 working days of payment clearing. Occasionally it takes longer, but not usually. Custom and engraved pieces take longer than stock items because they are made after you order them.

How long does delivery take?

Typically 5 to 7 days to major destinations once shipped, and up to around 20 days to countries further out. Customs clearance is the usual reason for a delay beyond that, and it is outside our control.

How do I track my order?

We send a tracking link once the order is confirmed, and you can also use our order tracking page. If the tracking has not moved for several days, DHL’s own tracking system is the most reliable place to check.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, worldwide. Import duties, taxes and customs charges are the buyer’s responsibility, and clearance times vary by country.

What if customs holds my knife?

Please check that your local law allows you to buy and import the item before ordering. Once an order has shipped we cannot be responsible for customs authorities holding it or refusing delivery. This is stated on our shipping and payments page and it is the single most common avoidable problem with international knife orders.

Returns, Refunds and Cancellations

What is your returns policy?

Returns are accepted within 15 days of receipt. The item must be unused, in the same condition you received it, and in its original packaging. After 15 days we cannot offer a refund or exchange. Full terms are on the refund and returns page.

How do refunds work?

Once your return arrives we inspect it and email you to confirm we have it, then to tell you whether the refund is approved. Approved refunds go back to the original payment method. If it has not appeared, check with your card company and your bank first — there is usually processing time at their end before it posts.

Can I return a sale item?

No. Only regular priced items can be refunded.

Can I exchange an item?

We replace items only if they are defective or damaged. To exchange for the same item, email info@hmknives.com and send the item to our returns address.

Can I cancel my order?

Before it ships, yes — contact admin@hmknives.com with your order details and we will process it quickly. Once an order has shipped it cannot be cancelled, though you can return it under the returns policy after delivery.

Can I cancel a custom or engraved order?

Not once production has begun. Custom and personalised pieces are made specifically for you and cannot be resold, so they are not cancellable or returnable. Please be certain of the specification before commissioning one.

The Knives: Steel and Construction

What is Damascus steel, exactly?

It is a construction method rather than a steel. Ours is 1095 and 15N20 forge-welded together, folded, drawn out and etched so the two alloys show as light and dark bands. Both are carbon steels. The pattern is the product of hours of work — our Damascus vs high carbon guide explains what the layers do and do not change.

Will a Damascus knife rust?

Yes. Both steels in the billet are carbon steels, so there is no chromium film protecting the surface. Wipe it dry after use, keep a light film of oil on the blade, and store it out of the leather sheath. Looked after, it will outlive you. Left wet, it will spot within days. Anyone selling you Damascus as stainless is describing a different product.

How hard are your blades?

HRC 58–60 across the range, knives and axes alike. That is hard enough to hold an edge properly and soft enough not to chip in use.

Which steels do you use?

Damascus (1095 and 15N20), plain 1095, J2 and D2. J2 is a high-carbon steel and the best value for a working knife. D2 is a high-chromium tool steel that holds an edge longer and resists rust noticeably better, though it is not stainless and it is harder to sharpen. Our steel types guide compares them.

Are your knives full tang?

Some are, some are not, and the product listing always tells you which. Roughly half the fixed blades in the catalogue are full tang, where one piece of steel runs the whole length of the handle. The rest are hidden or half tang, where the tang is anchored inside the handle. Full tang matters most on long, heavy blades that take leverage; on a smaller knife the difference is largely theoretical. If it matters to you, check the listing before ordering — every one states the construction.

Do the knives come with a sheath?

Yes, every knife ships with a full-grain leather sheath, and the axes ship with a leather sheath too. Some pieces have hand engraved sheaths.

Are these actually handmade?

Yes. Each blade starts as a steel billet and is shaped by hand on an anvil rather than stamped from sheet. The workshop has eight craftsmen and the work is split by stage rather than one person making a knife end to end — the workshop page explains how a knife moves through it.

Care and Maintenance

How do I stop my knife rusting?

Three habits cover almost all of it: dry it before you put it away, keep a wiped-on film of food-grade mineral or camellia oil on the blade, and never store it inside the leather sheath. Leather holds moisture against steel and is tanned with salts.

There is a grey film on my blade. Is that rust?

Almost certainly not. Carbon steel develops a grey-blue patina with use, and it is a stable oxide layer that slows further corrosion. Leave it — it is doing you a favour. Orange or red rust is the one to act on, with a light abrasive and then oil.

Are your knives dishwasher safe?

No, none of them. The heat and detergent strip the oil film, attack natural handle materials and will leave a carbon blade badly marked. Hand wash in warm water and dry immediately.

How do I sharpen a Damascus blade?

Exactly like any other carbon steel — the layers make no difference to sharpening. A combination whetstone around 1000 and 6000 grit plus a leather strop will do everything. The full sequence is in our step-by-step sharpening guide. D2 is the one exception: it generally wants a diamond plate.

How do I look after a bone, horn or stag handle?

They are organic and will dry out over years in a heated house. Keep them out of standing water and treat them occasionally with a little wax or oil. Wooden axe hafts want boiled linseed oil once or twice a year.

Customisation and Engraving

Do you offer engraving?

Yes, on the blade or the sheath — initials, names, dates or motifs. Engraved orders take longer to ship than stock items and, because they are personalised, they cannot be cancelled once production starts.

Can I choose the handle material?

On a custom order, yes. We work in bone, stag and stag crown, bull horn, sheep horn, micarta, resin, wenge and other woods. If the knife is going to be used with wet hands, micarta is the most practical choice and polished bone the least — our materials guide compares them.

Do you make knife sets?

Yes. There are Damascus chef sets in five and seven piece configurations in the kitchen collection, and we can quote for a custom set.

Is it legal for me to buy one of these?

That depends entirely on where you are, and checking is your responsibility before you order. Blade length limits, restrictions on double-edged blades and locking knives, and import rules all vary by country and often by region within a country.

Is there an age restriction?

Yes. By ordering you are confirming that you are 18 or older.

Who is responsible if the knife is misused?

These are tools and they are sharp. We are not responsible for misuse that causes injury or harm, and that notice is on our shipping and payments page.

About HM Knives

Who makes these knives?

HM Knives is a family business trading since 2020, founded by Philip Thapa, who has been making knives for 23 years and learned the trade through his family. There are eight craftsmen in the workshop. The founder page and the workshop page have the detail.

How do I contact you?

Through the contact form, or by email — info@hmknives.com for returns and general enquiries, admin@hmknives.com for order cancellations. We answer enquiries about custom work in detail, so tell us what you are trying to make.

Where can I read customer reviews?

On our customer reviews page.

Still Not Answered?

Ask us directly through the contact form. If your question is about which knife suits a particular job, our guides go into far more depth than a FAQ answer can:

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